Odell Beckham Jr. caught six passes for 204 yards and two scores, Terrance Magee added two second-half touchdowns, and No. 13 LSU turned a tenuous halftime lead into a 48-16 romp over Furman on Saturday night.

If LSU is to come out on top in T-Town, The Tigers will need to score more than the nine they scored in their last victory over the Tide two years ago. That starts up front. LSU’s rushing attack has been strong at times with an SEC-high 28 rushing touchdowns and tied for SEC fifth-best 5.2 yards per rush, but the run game abandoned them in their previous road losses with 2.1 yards per carry versus UGA and 3.3 versus Ole Miss.

The Tide have been the best versus the run in the SEC by any statistical measure, and they rank in the top 10 nationally. Only three rushing scores have come versus the Tide.

Running the ball on Alabama has been a stupid and futile gesture, and I’m not sure that LSU is just the guys to do it.

Advantage: Alabama

LSU passing offense versus Alabama passing defense:

Zach Mettenberger was rolling along with a superior senior season until he threw three picks in Oxford three weeks ago. After two more picks versus lowly Furman two weeks ago, maybe a bye week cleared his head. In his only game versus Alabama, Mett was magnificent a year ago. If he can replicate that performance, LSU has a chance.

However, Alabama has been equally dominant versus the pass with eight picks and six passing touchdowns allowed. And what’s scary is that nearly one-third o those yards AND ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE TOUCHDOWNS came versus Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M.

Sorry Mett, but if your name’s not Manziel, you’re not winning this category.

Advantage: Alabama

Alabama rushing offense versus LSU rushing defense:

Alabama has had running backs taken in the first or second rounds in each of the past three drafts. Doesn’t matter. Plug the nest guy in, and he’s just as effective. Six running backs have carried the ball in 2013, and four have scored touchdowns, but T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake have had the bulk of the workload with a combined 1,220 yards and 17 touchdowns.

LSU‘s problems on defense have been well documented. The Tigers will be unable to bring their DBs into the box, because AJ McCarron has become a force with his arm if you give him the chance.

Alabama’s offensive line has really improved as the season has progressed, and with LSU’s lack of depth on the D-Line and size at linebacker, it’s really tough for me to see the Tigers stopping the run and getting the Tide off the field.

Advantage: Alabama

Alabama passing offense versus LSU passing defense:

Like many of LSU’s other units, their pass defense has been largely good…… except for their two road losses. They struggle to get off the field on third down and have not come up with big plays in critical junctures.

Alabama isn’t necessary explosive through the air, but they’re painfully consistent. McCarron has 16 passing touchdowns and three interceptions this year, leading Alabama to the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency.

If LSU stacks the box, McCarron will make them pay over the top, and I think LSU will have to be aggressive and sell out for the run, so give me Alabama once again.

Advantage: Alabama

Special teams:

Kicking appears to be a wash, and Alabama appears to have a slight advantage in punting.

Alabama has two punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return touchdown in 2013, while LSU’s only return touchdown has been on a field goal by Odell Beckham Jr. LSU is second to last in the SEC in kickoff coverage.

Advantage: Alabama

Coaching:

Two years ago, it appeared LSU head coach Les Miles may actually have gotten the upper hand over Nick Saban when he beat him for the second-straight time and went on to an undefeated SEC-champion regular season. From there, it’s been all downhill with a 21-0 loss in New Orleans for the BCS Title then a heartbreaking loss in Tiger Stadium last year that could have placed LSU in position to win the national title had the last two minute gone differently.

So close, yet so far.

Nick Saban has his team playing with more consistency than any college team that I can ever remember. They rarely, if ever, have an off-game, and I can’t tell you how impressive it is to get that kind of consistent effort out of 18-23-year-olds.

Saban gets the obvious advantage, but Miles out outwitted him in the past, and it’s easy to write revisionist history and forget how close Miles is to being in Saban’s shoes.

Advantage: Alabama

Prediction:

These coaches have not played a regular-season game decided by more than nine points in their six-year epic history.

However, I think that trend ends this year.

LSU just has too many holes and deficiencies to complete with Alabama this year. The Tigers would need Bama to help them with mistakes, and the Tide just doesn’t do that. Bama is fifth-best in the SEC in fewest penalties (40), first in sacks allowed (7) and second in turnovers (7). Alabama just doesn’t do the things that give underdog opponents the opportunity to stay in games.

You know LSU will be up for this one, and the Tigers have won six of their last eight in Bryant-Denny Stadium – a staggeringly amazing feat.

But not this year.

WDSU Sports Anchor Sharief Ishaq has Alabama winning 38-24, and I’m afraid to say that I think that I don’t think the game will be that close. As a graduate of LSU and a fan of good and exciting football, it pains to be say it, but give be the Tide to roll.